EU Megane: Hungaroring race one report

Rossi rises to the occasion
French driver Michael Rossi (Racing for Belgium) converted his pole
position into a race win, the first of his racing career! Second-placed
Fabrice Walfisch (Team Lompech Sport) finished on the podium for the
first...

Rossi rises to the occasion

French driver Michael Rossi (Racing for Belgium) converted his pole
position into a race win, the first of his racing career! Second-placed
Fabrice Walfisch (Team Lompech Sport) finished on the podium for the
first time in Eurocup Megane Trophy. With his fifth podium finish in as
many races, Pedro Petiz (Tech 1 Racing) tightened his grip on the
championship.

The two Megane Trophies of the Racing for Belgium team comfortably eased
into the first corner at the front. The battle between Michael Rossi and
Carlo van Dam was fierce, but the polesitter just about managed to hold
onto the lead. Van Dam was quickly overtaken by Ludovic Badey (TDS).
These three were followed by Pedro Petiz (Tech 1 Racing), Greg Franchi
(Equipe Verschuur), Dimitri Enjalbert (Tech 1 Racing), Maxime Martin
(Boutsen Energy Racing) and Fabrice Walfisch (Team Lompech Sport).

Martin wasted little time relieving Enjalbert of sixth place. At the
front, Rossi built up a good lead over the chasing pack, made up of Van
Dam, who had by then moved back ahead of Badey, Petiz and Franchi. Just
behind, Walfisch coolly observed the Martin/Enjalbert duel.

Petiz and Enjalbert were the first to come in to refuel after just three
laps. Franchi, Ten Brinke and Lahaye followed suit on the next lap. Up
ahead, the gap between Rossi and Van Dam settled at around five seconds.
Held up in fourth by Badey, Martin decided to come in on lap 6. But the
Belgian's chances of a top-three spot faded when he was handed a drive
through penalty for cutting across the white line at the pit lane exit.

At the halfway stage, Rossi held a 6'' lead over Van Dam. Walfisch was
third after Badey had come into the pits. Further back, things were
pretty well strung out between Matthieu Cheruy (TDS), Ralph Meichtry
(Race Performance) and Pedro Petiz. Eighth-placed Dimitri Enjalbert was
however being pressurized by Mike Verschuur.

While Dimitri Enjalbert was forced out due to a mechanical problem, Van
Dam and Rossi made their pit stops on laps 13 and 14. Fabrice Walfisch
briefly held the lead before he also came in for his pit stop. With 16
laps gone, Ralph Meichtry was the last of the favourites to refuel: the
outcome of the race would soon become clear!

As expected, Rossi regained the race lead after his stop, but Walfisch
had managed to sneak ahead of Van Dam! Petiz and Badey rounded off the
provisional top five. Whilst fighting to hold onto eighth spot with
Matthieu Lahaye, Bernhard Ten Brinke (Equipe Verschuur) was shunted into
the barriers just five minutes from the end.

Clearly struggling, Van Dam was unable to hold off Petiz, Verschuur and
Badey. Verschuur pushed hard to get past Petiz right up to the final
corner, but he could not find a gap Van Dam's problems continued right to
the finishing line. He could only manage tenth after also being overtaken
by Lahaye, Cheruy, Martin and Horion.

Michael Rossi: "It was a tough race. The track, the car and the tyres
were all overheating! As the laps went by, the handling of the Megane
improved and I managed to get out of the pits in the lead. Thanks to all
the team for this win."

Fabrice Walfisch: "I also have to thank Team Lompech. We have worked hard
to improve the car's performance. Things just keep getting better and
better. I have good memories of racing here: I was on pole in F3000 with
Draco back in 1999!"

Pedro Petiz: "I couldn't go much quicker today. In particular, I had some
problems with the brakes. But I held on in there to get the best possible
result. This podium finish is good for the championship."